go or strangle for him; fight as he might,
he was forced to climb on the rail, to aid in his own funeral.

The yachtsmen turned dizzy with the awfulness of the man's end; but they
could not take their fascinated eyes from the scene. They saw Rufe
topple over the rail with a choking curse, and saw the rope pull him
under the vessel; they saw the rope quiver to the pirates' lusty pull as
the victim was battered against the keel. And they saw the terrible
figure leap from the sea to leeward and fly to the gaff-end as the men
ran away with the rope to a roaring chorus. But they saw no more. Their
eyes refused to look at a repetition of that horror. And Dolores,
watching them keenly, came to them, after giving final orders regarding
Yellow Rufe's body, took their chains in her hand, and said:

"When again the thought comes to leave me, gentlemen, think well upon
what I have showed thee. Now come below. I owe thee some refreshment
after a night of storm. 'Twill be approaching dawn ere the schooner can
beat back to my haven. Come. I will serve thee with supper."

CHAPTER XV.

THE FIRES OF THE FLESH.

In the schooner's saloon the atmosphere was peaceful by contrast with
the hurly-burly outside; yet even here the steep slant of the deck, the
shrill, protesting squeal of working frames and beams, the sullen thud
and swish of racing seas along the vessel's skin, kept the storm ever in
mind: the dizzy plunge of the bows into great gray seas, with its
accompanying rise of the stern and the hollow jar and thump of the
rudder-post in its port, kept the interior humming with sound as from a
distant organ.

Again chained to the mainmast, the three yachtsmen stood gloomily
regarding Dolores, whose capable, battle-wise fingers now performed a
task more in keeping with her sex and charm. Under the great swing-lamp
in the skylight she leaned over the table, mixing wine in low, stout
cups, spreading a silver salver with food from the pantry. And a
thrilling picture she made in the soft glow of the lamp. The beautiful
face was warm with color; the scarlet lips were slightly opened in a
brilliant smile; intent upon her task, she swayed with superb grace to
the tremendous lurches of the driving schooner, ignoring all outside
affairs.

Her preparations completed, she placed tray and cups at the end of the
table nearest the mainmast, turned around the deep armchair which had
been the owner's own, and sat down, offering a cup and t